Drayton Florence's Bio

Drayton Florence responds well when his back is against the wall. A year ago the Chargers drafted Antonio Cromartie in the first round and the youngster was brought in to compete for a starting spot. How did Drayton respond? He did so by posting career highs in tackles and passes defensed, while recording the second-highest interception total of his career. Two of his three picks proved to be pivotal as they took place late in the fourth quarter of late-season division games that helped the Chargers close out 2006 with 10 straight wins and their second AFC West title in the last three seasons.

Having to prove himself is nothing new for Florence. The former second-round draft choice from Tuskegee has faced challenges his entire NFL career. One of the biggest challenges was when he moved into the starting lineup in 2004, just one season after the Bolts surrendered a team-record 36 touchdown passes and won only four games. Since his insertion in the starting lineup, San Diego’s pass defense has steadily improved and the team has won 35 games in the last three seasons. In 2004, the Bolts’ touchdown total dropped from 36 to 19 and it has remained steady, 20 TD passes allowed in ’05 and 19 in ’06.

In total defense, the Chargers finished the 2006 season ranked 13th in defending the pass. It was a significant improvement from a year ago when the Bolts ranked 28th. During the ’06 regular season, the squad gave up 24.1 fewer pass yards per game (224.9 to 200.8); it recorded six more interceptions (10 to 16), and eight more passes defensed (94 to 102). Florence’s 16 passes defensed were second-most on the team and his three interceptions tied for second. Further, the Chargers held six of the final eight quarterbacks they faced in 2006 to a passer rating below 66.0. In the last eight games, including playoffs, San Diego’s defense recorded 11 interceptions and broke up 65 passes

One of the keys to Drayton’s success is his offseason workout regimen. Aside from his work in the Chargers’ offseason conditioning program, Florence has spent the last six years training in Florida with All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss at the Randy Moss Speed Academy. The workouts last two to three hours, five days a week in Florida’s heat and high humidity. Drayton also has hired a personal trainer with whom he practices yoga and Pilates, and he works out three times a week at the Reyes Boxing Gym in Chula Vista.

Drayton has become an active member of the community. For each Chargers home game, he purchases 20 tickets in the Chargers Community Corner that he distributes to inner-city youth through the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Diego.
In 2004 he started the Drayton Florence Foundation to develop programs to help disadvantaged youth in his hometown of Ocala, Florida. He has hosted football camps at his alma mater, Vanguard High School, a celebrity golf classic and a celebrity basketball shootout.

Away from football Drayton enjoys spending time with his son Jaden and daughter Jaelynn. He’s become an addicted golfer and is an avid pool player who has a table in his home. He also likes to play Texas Hold ’em poker for fun on the Internet.

Drayton is one of the team’s biggest supporters of the military. His dad, Drayton, Sr., spent 20 years in the Army and retired with a rank of E7. Drayton’s sister Lakisha is currently serving in the Army and is stationed in San Antonio, Texas. She carries the rank of E4.

TRANSACTIONS
Second-round draft pick by Chargers (46), April 26, 2003…signed five-year contract July 23, 2003.

PRO CAREER
2006 Started Weeks 1-16…led secondary with five tackles Week 1 at Oakland…broke up pass Week 2 against Tennessee and just missed interception with clear path to endzone in front of him…had three-yard tackle for loss Week 3 at Baltimore…provided second-half spark with interception off attempted flea-flicker in Oct. 8 Sunday Night Football win over Pittsburgh…picked off deep ball intended for Santonio Holmes just three plays after Bolts had kicked field goal to get within 13-10…Chargers drove 11 plays and 91 yards on ensuing possession to score touchdown and take 17-13 lead they would not relinquish…nearly intercepted pass on deep ball late in third quarter intended for Antonio Bryant at San Francisco Week 5…still broke up pass, which was his team-leading sixth pass defensed of season…tied for team high with two pass breakups against Cleveland Nov. 5…one of pass breakups occurred on third-down play in fourth quarter to force field goal when Chargers led 17-12…made outstanding effort on fourth down play late in fourth quarter to break up pass intended for Glenn Holt in end zone and allow Chargers to preserve 49-41 win at Cincinnati Nov. 12…helped seal Chargers Nov. 19 win at Denver with late fourth-quarter interception off Jake Plummer on fourth-and-four play with 3:10 remaining…returned pick 23 yards to Broncos’ 23-yard line and five plays later, Chargers scored touchdown to claim 35-27 lead…defense then made stand as Chargers closed out victory…closed out Bolts’ 21-14 win over Oakland Nov. 26 with interception on first play after two-minute warning…pass was tipped at line of scrimmage by Matt Wilhelm on fourth-and-13 play…Chargers took knee after pick and ran out clock for victory…led team with three passes defensed in 24-21 win at Buffalo Dec. 3…racked up team-high three passes defensed in Dec. 10 win over Denver…second-consecutive game with three passes defensed…opened Broncos game by ending Denver’s first offensive series with pass breakup against Rod Smith on third-and-eight play…started AFC Divisional Playoff game against New England and registered first-career postseason interception off Tom Brady in third quarter.
2005 Started Weeks 1-2 at right cornerback…led team with two passes defensed against New York Giants on ESPN Sunday Night Football Sept. 25…had apparent 30-yard interception return for touchdown against Eli Manning negated by roughing passer penalty…recorded tackle for loss among five stops against New England Oct. 2…injured ankle during Monday Night Football game against Pittsburgh Oct. 10...inactive Weeks 6-8 due to ankle injury…returned to action Week 9 but saw limited playing time on special teams…led team with two passes defensed and tallied five stops against Buffalo in return to starting lineup Nov. 20…second-leading tackler with seven stops against Oakland Dec. 4…led team with two passes defensed against Miami Dec. 11…recorded first interception of season in win at Indianapolis Dec. 18, but was stripped of ball during return and Colts recovered fumble…defense recovered and forced punt after three-and-out…also tallied two passes defensed against Colts…tallied tackle for loss at Kansas City Dec. 24.
2004 Ranked second on team with four interceptions and led squad with 54 yards in returns…hauled in first-career interception against Jacksonville Oct. 10 and returned it 40 yards to set up 11-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Antonio Gates to give Chargers 21-0 lead…added two passes defensed and team-high two special teams tackles against Jaguars…recorded interception at Atlanta Oct. 17 late in second quarter that resulted in 17-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Eric Parker on ensuing drive and gave San Diego 14-7 lead at halftime…moved into starting lineup at Carolina Oct. 24 but left game early with ankle injury…inactive for Oakland game Oct. 31 and New Orleans game Nov. 7 due to ankle injury…active but did not play at Oakland Nov. 21…filled in for injured Sammy Davis at Kansas City Nov. 28…AFC Defensive Player of Week following Dec. 5 game against Denver…started vs. Broncos for injured Sammy Davis and recorded interception off Jake Plummer on opening series of game…Chargers scored touchdown four plays later on five-yard touchdown run by LaDainian Tomlinson to take 7-0 lead…then late in fourth quarter of 20-17 game, broke up fade pass in end zone intended for Rod Smith and tipped ball in air where it was intercepted by Jerry Wilson to seal victory…finished Broncos game with three tackles, including one for loss, and two passes defensed…counted tackle for loss among three stops at Cleveland Dec. 19…racked up career-high seven tackles at Indianapolis Dec. 26…iced victory over Kansas City Jan. 2 with fourth-quarter interception off Trent Green…collected pass defensed and three stops in Wild Card Playoffs against New York.
2003 Tallied season-high six tackles at Oakland Sept. 28.

COLLEGE
Scored school-record three touchdowns on interception returns at Tuskegee…first-team Division II All-America selection by Associated Press, Sheridan Black Network, Football Gazette and American Football Coaches Association as senior…first-team All-Southern Intercollegiate Conference pick…two-time conference player of week…played at Tennessee-Chattanooga from 1999-2000 and Tuskegee from 2001-02…majored in social work.

PERSONAL
Born Dec. 19, 1980 in Ocala, Florida…all-district selection at Vanguard High School in Ocala…spent sophomore year at Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, South Carolina.